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Use this spreadsheet tool to practice for an initial HR job interview. Work at your own pace.
It provides twelve of the most common interview questions.
The second page provides you with instructions for utilizing this interactive tool.
Each question comes with insight into what the interviewer likely seeks with each question.
Click the arrow at the left to see that item's insight and tip into that interview item.
1. Tell me about yourself.
2. What is your greatest strength?
3. What is your greatest weakness?
4. What do you know about our company?
5. Where do you see yourself in 3 to 5 years?
6. Tell me about your greatest career success.
7. Tell me about a mistake you made at work and what you learned.
8. Tell me about a disagreement you had with a colleague and how you handled it.
9. How would your coworkers describe you?
10. Why should we hire you?
11. Tell me something we should know about you that we didn't think to ask.
12. Do you have any questions for me?
You then practice your answers in the provided space. Then rate the quality of your answer.
First by relevance to the job description. Speak to their needs.
Second by authenticity of your answer. Avoid embellishing.
Third by how specific is your answer. Generalizations don't sell yourself.
Select from the dropdown list to get feedback to the quality of your response.
Best: Feedback to an excellent response to this question.
Good: Feedback to an acceptable response to this question.
Okay: Feedback to a minimal response to this question.
Poor: Feedback to an unacceptable response to this question.
See this unfold for question 4:
Then it provides examples of different quality level response you select from a dropdown list.
Best: What an excellent response would look like for that question.
Good: What an acceptable response would look like for that question.
Okay: What a minimal response would look like for that question.
Poor: What an unacceptable response would look like for that question.
See here all four example quality levels to a response to question 4:
The tool also comes with many other useful tips. This tool features how to use the CAR method for answer behavioral interview questions. You likely are familiar with the STAR method: Situation, Task, Actions, Results.
The CAR method keeps it simpler.
Every story has a beginning (Challenge to set up the story),
middle (Actions where you're the hero), and
satisfying conclusion (Results you created).
Your short stories can be more compelling when focusing on that middle part, instead of getting bogged down an unnecessary details in the beginning.
See an example CAR story on page 6 for each of these 12 in-demand soft skills:
leadership skills
teamwork skills
problem-solving skills
customer service skills
communication skills
interpersonal skills
emotional intelligence
adaptability skills
organizational skills
creativity
attention to detail
work ethic
I help my student-clients practice their CAR stories to demonstrate their potential value to the interviewer. The more you practice and finetune your CAR stories, the more you can emotionally impact the interviewer to trust you as the best candidate.
You can practice with me in person if you have a Cambly account.
I have served hundreds of interviewees on Cambly. Here are some of their testimonials, vouching for how this tool and its emphasis on using their CAR stories has helped them.
Perhaps I can help you sell your qualifications to an employer of your choice. Download this tool and see for yourself how you can improve your job interviewing skills.
When you cannot find someone to help you practice, this could be your next best thing.
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